Pro-Palestinian demonstrations - Interior Minister: Abuse of demonstrations intolerable
In view of the war in the Middle East, the German interior ministers still do not want to accept pro-Palestinian demonstrations against Israel without restrictions.
"The abuse of freedom of opinion and freedom of assembly to spread hatred and agitation against Israel and Jews is not only intolerable, but we will oppose it with all available constitutional means," emphasized the Chairwoman of the Conference of Interior Ministers (IMK), Berlin's Senator of the Interior Iris Spranger (SPD), at the opening. The visit of Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and the President of the Central Council of Jews, Josef Schuster, to the conference was therefore an important signal.
Threat situation due to Islamist terrorism
The global security situation has recently deteriorated "dramatically", which has a direct impact on Germany, Spranger continued. The threat of terrorism is the second focus of the three-day conference in Berlin. In view of the current conflicts, the protection of citizens in Germany is particularly important.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser(SPD) had already emphasized in the news portal "t-online" that there was an increased threat situation, particularly from Islamist terrorism. "Right now, we need to keep a close eye on Islamist threats and stop further radicalization processes." Currently, the Christmas markets and next year's European Football Championship 2024 are the main focus of the police.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) will also be a guest of the interior ministers. Spranger said that Germany's internal and external security are "no longer clearly separable".
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) demanded on the sidelines of the conference that the border controls introduced by Faeser in mid-October, especially those with Poland and the Czech Republic, must be continued. "The controls are extremely successful. Since they have been in place, we have been able to arrest hundreds of criminal smugglers," said Herrmann. The controls have a clear deterrent effect. It would be "completely the wrong signal" to end them again. Similar assessments were heard from other interior ministers.
Another important topic at the IMK will be how to deal with violent soccer fans. Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Hesse in particular urged discussions on the subject, while several federal states also see the DFB as having a duty to contribute to the costs of police operations. Following a number of incidents at German airports, more security at such locations is also to be discussed. Other topics include the fight against increasing violent crime, sexualized depictions of violence against children through artificial intelligence and the reversal of the burden of proof in the confiscation of criminals' assets.
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Source: www.stern.de
